Water-heater.



' FI. F. II/IETCALFF..

WATER HEATER. APPLICATION FILED FFB. 25, I49I3.

Patented May 25, 1915.

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Q/@Hme II. 5M W i -EOBERT E. METCALEE, or ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATERHEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Application led February 2,5, 1913. Serial N o. 750,484.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT F METCALFE, acitizen of the United States, residing in the city of Erie, in thecounty of Erie. and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Water-Heaters, of which the following is aspecification. l

This invention relates to an improvement in automatic water heaters,generally known as instantaneous heaters, and one in which the drawingoff of hot water governs and controls the gas fuel used in thegeneration of .heat, this being effected automatically and inproportions to the quantity of hot water drawn off by the operation ofmy improved valve mechanism. A

My invention further aims to provide regulating means, which whileremaining sufficiently sensitive to automatically place into operationthe heat generating means upon the discharge of hot water from theapparatus, and yet be positive in its action iii-'shutting off the gassupply when the hot water ceases to flow from the heater.

I attain lthese results by means of a reciprocally disposed wateractuated valve piston, operatively connected with a gas valve plunger,in a manner which provides a. proportionately shorter movement or liftto thc gas valve than to the water actuated plunger.

WV ith these. and other objects hereinafter referred to, my inventionconsists of certain novel -and peculiar features of construction andcombination of parts as hereinafter described, and claimed, and for thepurposes of describing my invention there is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings the preferred embodiment of my apparatus wherein,the figure is a longitudinal Asection through the heater.

Referring to the drawings, formed preferably of some nou-corrosivemetal, comprising a water container header, having two separatecompartments therein, the one compartment located in the center thereofis adapted to receive the cold water from the mains, and to distributethe same into the several water heating tubes 10, the receiving end ofeach'water heating tube being connected to the cold water compartment ofthe rheater by the duct 2, and the discharging end of each water heatingtube casing L1, which rests 1 is a castingI being connected to the hotwater compartment of the heater water heating tubesiare. composed ofsoft by the duct 3. Thev drawn copper tubing formed into coils and f yarranged in the form of a cone, with that end of the cone forming thegreatest c1r-` cumference, placed directly over the fuel gas burner 5.each convolution is successively reduced in diameter to provide for eachsucceeding layer to be placed in better position to come As the coilextends` upward;L

in contact with the products of combustion from the burners 5.

Surrounding the water heating tubes 10,

and the burners 5, is an exterior shell or constituting the foundationof the heater. Resting upon the base 6, is base castingvS, into whichare screwed a plurality of burners 5 in such manner as to communicatewith a central within the base casting 8, is a gas inlet 15, which sleads from 7 through the gas port 16. the gas chamber 7, andoperating'to open and close the 17. Located tension screw plug 25. Bymeans of the tension screw plug 25 any desired adjust-pv ment can bemade to facilitate the operation of the gas valve 17.

Extending upward from the 'casting 8, is i tion of the housing in whichis located the upon a suitable base 6,l

gas reservoir 7. Locatedv lany source of fuel gas supply, andcommunicates with gas chamber Located within 1 gas port 16, is a puppetvalve4 under the valve stem of the,V puppet valve 17, is a coil spring24, with a` forms the lower secgas valve operating mechanism. Resting yon the casting 35, vand suitably attached thereto by the bolts 33, isthecasting 34y upper part of the housing of forming the Extending upthegas valve mechanism. ward from the casting 34 which is' suitablyattached to the casting 34, at its lower extremity tremity ,is screw .isthe tube 36,4

and at its upper ai', threaded into the flange' 21, which is attac-hedl,to the top headerkl, g

by bolts 19.

' Located between the inlet-duct 1.1. and the u water chamber ,12, isthe valve chamber 953. is which is located a reeiprocally disposed valveplston 22.' The valve piston and' the the gas valve lifting ll Y mostposition,

valve chamber 23, in which the valve piston 22 operates, are so designedthat when the valve piston 22 has reached its upward it substantiallycloses the valve chamber 23, to the free passage of water therethrough.As the valve piston 22 is forced into its downward most position, thewater is free to pass from the inlet duct 14, to the| water chamber 12,and be placed in direct communication with the water heating tubes 10,by the ducts 2.

Formed integrally with the valve piston 22, is the valve stem 18, whichis centrally disposed within the tubes 36, extending downward therein,and is operatively connected at its lower extremity to the lever 37,which is fulcrumed at the pinion 38. Passing through the lever 37, isthe set screw 89, which is suitably extended so as to provide a bearingcontact on the finger 40. The linger 40 rests upon, and is suitablyfastened to the diaphragm 20, and the diaphragm reinforcing disk 20', 41which passes through the disk 20 and the diaphragm 2O and is screwthreaded intothe projecting linger 42 located on the underside of thediaphragm 20. y

Placed in contact with the finger 42, is

lever 43, which is pivoted on the stud 138. The horizontal linger of thelever 43 being operatively connected with the valve stem 118 of the gasvalve 17. The lever 43 is maintained in contact with the projectingfinger 42, by the tension spring 44, which is regulated by the tensionscrew 45. To provide for suitable adjustment between the lever 43 andthe diaphragm projecting fingerscrew 46 is placed in the lower end ofthe projecting finger 42. Suitable openings are provided for in thehousing for making adjustment of the valve mechanism, which are closedby dummy screws 47,47. Located within the top header 1, and exertingsuflicient pressure to normally hold thevalve plunger 22 in its uppermost position is the spring 11. The castings 34 and 35 forming thehousing of the gas valve operating mechanism is preferably composed ofnoncorrosive metal and by virtue of the lower casting 35 being readilydetached from the vupper casting 34, any of the working parts areaccessible, and may be reached without dismantling the entire machine.

rlhe reciprocally disposed valve piston 22 willby virtue of the tensionof the spring 11 normally remain in the uppermost part of thevalvevchamber 23, as long as there is a suitable equilibrium between thewater pressure within the chamber 12, and the inlet duct 14. When thisequilibrium is estab-v lished the spring 11 is free to exert'its upwardpressure withoutv the counteracting influences of 'the water pressureagainst the upper side of the valve piston 22, thereby by the screwv vtothe gas valve operating causing a lift to the gas valve 17, and open-42, an' adjustment down with it in its onward movement the valve piston22. This downward movement of the valve piston 22 will exert a. downwardmovement to the'lever 37, which will communicate through the bearingofthe screw 39, against the diaphragm linger 40, causing an oscillatingmovement of the centhe passage way against I from the inlet d uct 14,

ter of the flexible diaphragm 20, thereby.

causing a lateral movement to the projecting finger 42, whichmovementliscommunicated lever 43,: thereby ing the valve passage way 16 to the freepassage of gas from the passage way 15, to the gas chamber 7 ,isupplying the burners 5 with gas.

The tension of the spring 44, is adjustable by the turning of thetension screw 45, -thus providing means for proportioning the quantityof fuel gas that passes through the gas valve port 16, directly in ratioto the effort that is exerted on theplunger 22 by the quantity of kwaterthat is being drawn through the heater. This provides an absolute andreliable means of control, assuring that when it is set to supply thecorrect amount of fuel gas ena small discharge of water, and with theplunger` 22 set at the right height to give a full opening on a fulldischarge of water, themechanism will proportion the gas, to the amountof v.water discharged from a complete shut o'l to a full opening. thechamber 12, the movement of the water through the inlet duct 14, will besufficient to move the valve piston 22 against the spring As the wateris being drawn from'l stoppage of the flow of water from the inlet duct14, and as the flow pressure of the spring 11 will cause the valvepiston 22 to pass upward, until the valve chamber 23 has been closed'tothe free of water ceases, the

' upon the movement iassage of Water and Will remain closedf.t

inti'l the How of water through the inlet duct 1.4 again occurs byreason of the opening of one or lmore faucets in the hott Waterdischarge line.

Under the adjustment provided the heating means is controlled throughthe velocity of Water passing the plunger 22, and the effect on theoperating mechanism by the variations in pressure d ue to the draftsfrom other communicating mains do not eifect the operation of theheater, and the capacity of the heater being known, the supply can beregulated from either the inlet or the outlet side of the waterconnections.

Attached to the base casting 8, and screw threaded therein are aplurality of gas burners 5, each one of which constitutes acomplete unitin itself, and communicates with one source of gas supply by the gaschamber Fuel gas having been admitted to the passage way 15, from anysource. of gas fuel supply, it passes into the gas port 16 and re'-`mains in readiness to pass into chamber 7, of the gas valve 17, when itpasses through the gas chamber 7, and into the burner opening 26, of theburner 5, causing a jet to enter the vmixing chamber 27, where itbecomes commingled With atmospheric air drawn iny through aperture 28,and passes upward through the mixing chamber 27, through the openings29, and

in tov the combustion chamber 30. Located within the combustion chamber30, and placed in direct communication with the gas passage way 15, islthe pilot burner 31, through which the gas is constantly admitduringsuch periods as the heater is in operatiomby the opening of the cock 32.As the gaS` emerges from the burner 5, through the aperture 29, itbecomes ignited from contact with the pilot burner 31. e,

The shell 4, surrounding the combustion I:hamber is preferably composedof sheet fron formed of suitable shape at the point where it encirclesthe heating tubes to provide for the most eiiicient application of heatwithin the combustion chamber' to the heating 'tubes 10. To furtherprovide for more efficient heating, as well as to retain the heat withinthe chamber, and'to insulate the interior part of the shell 4, from theheat therein a suitable lining of asbestos felt 48, placed within theshell 4, extending downward to a point below the level ers o. Locatedwithin the shell 4, 1s a disk shaped batle plate 49 suiioundin(r theburner groip, which forms the bottom of the conibustlon chamber 30.

forming the upper half of the valve operating housing, is provided withoro'iectiiig arms 50 which pass downward be; i each burner at an angletoward the lower circumference of the baille plate 49 and serve the tingoft' the rush lthe shell 4, by bolts 51, andvis of the burnl on :alieupper face of the constitute the required opening for the passage of airto the combustion chamber 30, the quantity admitted being'pre-determined e by the extent of these openings, thereby cutof airdirectlyinto the combustion chamber, and forcing the buiners to draw themaximum amount of free air into the burner mixing chamber 27, at theopening 2S.

The batHe plate49 is suitably attached to readily removable to grantaccessl to the burners or to the valve operating mechanism. The bailleby the balile plate,oiving imity to the burners. For the purpose offacilitating the manufacture ing all parts of the interior of thehea'ter readily accessible, the shell 4 is composed of four pieces, thefront and back sections having large doors (not shown).

or taking care of any sediment or other foreignmatter that may be foundiii the water coming from the street mains, there is provided a suitablestrainer 52 located above the .inlet duct 14, which is suitably at-'tached to the line communicating with the Water mains by the union 53which also afd-- mits of a detachment thereof being readily made toallow the cleaning of the strainer 52.

aving thus described my invention and illustrated its use What I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters latent is the following:

1. A water heater of the character described, comprising :i Watercontainer having two separate compartments therein, a se'- to its closeprox ,4

as well as mak t To provide ries of water heating tibes connecting saidl compartments, water heating means, a Water 1 actuated plunger locatedWithin one of said compartments, a gas valve, actuating means locatedbetween said water plunger and the gas valve comprising a flexiblediaphragm having protruding lingers placed in operative contact withsaid Water ger and the gas valve.

water heater scribed, comprising a of the character deseries ofwaterheating tubes, a plurality ot' gas burners adjacent thereto, a gasvalve, a valve stem connected to said gas valve, a flexible diaphragmhav- `ing a projecting finger on each face, awater operated valvepiston, an actuating lever placed in contact with the projecting fingerdiaphragm operatively connected to said valve piston, a bell operativelyconnectedto said valve piston,

a second lever engaging thelower finger of said diaphragnnand operatingto actuate the v heat controlling means.

lever engaging the lower 4. A water heater of the character described,comprising a water container having two separate compartments therein,aseries of water heating coils connecting said compartments, a gasvalve, phragin having lingers projecting from its upper and lower faces,a water actuated valve piston, a lever pivoted at its lower endoperatively connected to said valve piston l and engaging the upperfinger of said diaphragm, a bell crank lever engaging the lower fingerof said diaph 1agm, operating to actuate the gas valve substantially asdescribed. l

4A water heater of the character described, comprising a water containerhaving two sepa 'ate compartments therein, water conductors connectingsaid compartments comprising a series of water heating coils, aplurality of gas burners adjacent to said water heating coils, a gaspassage lead ing tosaid burners, a gas valve located in said passage, alingers projecting from its upper and lower faces, a water actuatedvalve piston, a lever pivotedat its lower end operatively connected tosaid valve piston and engaging the upper finger of said diaphragm, abell crank finger of'v said diaphragm, and operating to actuate the gasvalve, substantially as described.

6. A water heater of the character described, comprising a watercontainer having two separate compartments, a series of yaterheati ngtubes connecting said compartments, a plurality of gas burners adjacentthereto, a gas valve, a water actuate plunger located in one of saidcompartments, gas valve actuating means comprising a lflexible.diaphragmwith protruding fingers placed in operative contact with said wateractuated plunger and the gas valve.

7. A water heater of the character de scribed, comprising an exteriorcasing and an inner casing disposed therein, having an upper and a lowercompartment,- a flexible diaphragm separating saidcompartments, a

vertically disposed gas valve in said lower a flexible diaflexiblediaphragm having compartment, water heating means located pliraginseparating said compartments, a y

gas valve located in `said lower compartment, water heating meanslocated. between said casings, a water actuated plunger havingverticalvmovement located inthe upper compartment, means for conveyingan oscillating movement tosaid diaphragm by said water actuated plunger,and means-fr conveying vertical movement to the gas valve from theoscillating movement oi? said diaphragm.

inner casing disposed thereinhaving an u per anda lower compartment, alexib eA diaphragm separatingl said compartments water heating meanslocated between said casing, a gas valve, ger located in the uppercompartment, means for conveying movement from the water actuatedplunger through an oscillating movement of said diaphragm to the gasvalve, substantially as described.

10. In a water heater. of the character described, the combination ofaseries of water A water heater of the character' de-'I scribed,comprising an exterior Icasing, an

a water actuated plunheating tubes, a plurality of gas burners adjacentthereto, a gas valve, afwater' container having two separatecompartments in communication through said Water heating' tubes, a wateractuated plunger located in one of said compartments, with gas valveactuating means comprising a flexible diaphragm having protrudingfingers placed inv operative contact with said water actuated' ionplunger and the gas valve substantially as described.

11. In a water heater of theA character de,- scribed, the combination ofan exterior casing, an imier casing disposed therein having an upper'anda lower compartment, a flexible diaphragm separating said compart' saidcasings, a water actuated plunger 1ocated inthe upper compartment, withmeans ing movement of the diaphragm.-

In a' water heater of the character described, the combination of awater pontainer having two separate compartments therein, a series ofwater heating tubes con- 'nectlng said compartments, an exterior casing,an inner casing disposed therein hav-` Aments, water heating meanslocatedbetween movement to a gas valve from said oscillat? sl conveyingmovement' vtwo separate ing an upper and a lower compartment, a flexiblediaphragm separating said compartments, water heating means locatedbetween said casings, a gas valve, a wateractuated plunger havingVertical movementloca'ted in the upper compartment, with .means forconveying an oscillating movement 'to said diaphragm' by said wateractuated plunger, and means for conveying vertical movement to the gasvalve from the oscillating@ movement of the diaphragm; l

13. A water heater ofthe character described, comprising an exteriorcasing, a water container havin'gtwo separa-te compartmehts locatedtherein, a series of water healting coils,4 ductsv leadingv from` one ofsuc the other of such compartments, a combustion chamber within saidexterior casing,

heating means within said chamber, an inner casing having an upper landa lower compartment, a fiexible diaphragm,v separating such last-namedcompartments, a* gas 'valve located in such lower compartment,

water heating means located between the exterior and inner casing; awater actuated plunger having vertical mbvement located 1n the uppercompartment, and means for to the gas valve through an oscillatingmovement oft said diaphragm, substantiallyas described. l

14. In a'waterheater of the character described, lthecombinatio'n of anouterandy an inner casing,l a water container having compartmentslocated therein, outlet ducts leadin from one compartment through aseries ofgwater heating coils into er compartment, a combustionchamheating means within said combustion chamber, an upper and a lowercompartment in said inner casing, a'flexible diaphragm compartments, agas valve located in said lowercompartment, a water actuated plungerhaving vertical movement located in the upper compartment, with meansfor conveying movement to the gas valve from saidA water actuatedplunger through an osscribed,

compartments through said coils intowater flowing .whereby movement ofsaid separating said cillatin' movement of said diaphragm substantial yas described.

15. A water heater of the character decomprising a water containerhaving a receiving and a di harging reservoir located therein, aninletduct entering said receiving reservoir a water strainerI located '55 'in said inlet duct, a plurality of outlet ducts leading from saidreceiving reservoir comprising aser1es of water heating coils andentering the discharge reservoir, water heating means adjacent to saidwater heating coils, heat controlling means, a water operated valvepiston, a gas valve and actuating means` com rising a flexible diaphragmhaving protruing fingers placed ini o erative contact vwith saidwateractuated p un- 6 ger and a scribed. i l

16. A water heater comprising water heating means, a plunger operable bymovegas valve,osubstantially as dement of the water through said waterheating means,fuel supply means for said heating means, and actuatingmeans operatively connecting said plunger to said fuel supply means,said actuating means including a' the same andzsaid plunger and saidfuel supply means, whereby the last-named means are controlledbyvmovement of said plunger.

tilting diaphragm and connections between 75 17. A water heatercomprising waterlieat- 80 ing means, awater chamber connected thereto, atilting diaphragm closing thc bottom of said chamber, a plunger disposedin said chamber and actuated by the velocity of the supplymeans disposedbelow said chamber, and means connecting said plunger, said diaphragmand said fuel supply means, plunger tilts said through said chamber,fuel diaphragm and controls said fuel supply.

In testimony whereof I have aHXed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

' ROBERT F.. METCALFE. Witnesses:

ROBERT LeRoBERTs, JNO. F. BERKENHAMP;

